Last Space Shuttle Launch - Page 1

The space shuttle era comes to an end tomorrow (weather permitting).  Launch is set for 11:26 am.  Sad to see this program end.  Is anyone going to see the launch in person?

Please, no conspiracy theory comments on this thread.

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

http://www.space.com/12195-space-shuttle-atlantis-final-crew-astronauts.html

It may scrub due to weather.

Officials, dignitaries, and celebrities are coming to watch the last launch:

http://www.space.com/12213-final-shuttle-launch-nasa-vip-list-atlantis.html

Blast off!

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/08/atlantis-blasts-off-on-final-flight-for-space-shuttle-program/

It is kind of awesome to belong of the generation who witnessed the first NASA step on the moon to the final filming of the blast-off ending the USA space shuttle era. 

It goes to show how quickly and lasting are the changes that have happened in a mere generation. It makes me think that teaching the right things to the next generation, stuff they will need to succeed that I never heard of before, is getting trickier than ever.

So true beetree!  I can remember watching the first landing on the moon when I was in kindergarten and now, sadly, the last space shuttle flight.  So much of our current technology is a result of the space program.  It will be interesting to see what the future holds for NASA and space exploration.